NFL 2017 Week 14 Thread

garion333 wrote:
Stele wrote:

Interesting how all day yesterday this thread was giving the super bowl to the Pats and then they lose to Miami last night.

Antonio Brown, another 200+ receiving game.

He's certainly a good option, but no WR has ever won the MVP and I'll be shocked if it happens now. If he somehow manages to get over 2,000 yards on the season, maybe, but otherwise probably not.

I really think Antonio Brown should be in the conversation. If the Eagles fall apart without Wentz, that's a strong signal that he is deserving of MVP, but I honestly hope they still do well into the post-season. I think Brady's terrible game last night indicates how valuable he is to the team; when he plays badly, the team can't win. That's not actually all that fair; Miami played a phenomenal game last night, Brady was more shut down than bad, so congratulations to Miami for that performance. Russell Wilson needs to be considered, for obvious reasons, but I'd like to see it go to a WR for a change.

Atras wrote:

I really think Antonio Brown should be in the conversation. If the Eagles fall apart without Wentz, that's a strong signal that he is deserving of MVP, but I honestly hope they still do well into the post-season. I think Brady's terrible game last night indicates how valuable he is to the team; when he plays badly, the team can't win. That's not actually all that fair; Miami played a phenomenal game last night, Brady was more shut down than bad, so congratulations to Miami for that performance. Russell Wilson needs to be considered, for obvious reasons, but I'd like to see it go to a WR for a change.

Brady's terrible game was a combo of some bad throws and his top two options being out. A bunch of number 3's weren't able to get open. The same thing happened in Denver a couple years ago when Gronk and Edelman were out. Nobody drawing double coverage made it easy to rush 5 on just about every play.

EvilDead wrote:
Atras wrote:

I really think Antonio Brown should be in the conversation. If the Eagles fall apart without Wentz, that's a strong signal that he is deserving of MVP, but I honestly hope they still do well into the post-season. I think Brady's terrible game last night indicates how valuable he is to the team; when he plays badly, the team can't win. That's not actually all that fair; Miami played a phenomenal game last night, Brady was more shut down than bad, so congratulations to Miami for that performance. Russell Wilson needs to be considered, for obvious reasons, but I'd like to see it go to a WR for a change.

Brady's terrible game was a combo of some bad throws and his top two options being out. A bunch of number 3's weren't able to get open. The same thing happened in Denver a couple years ago when Gronk and Edelman were out. Nobody drawing double coverage made it easy to rush 5 on just about every play.

Lot of dropped balls by those Pats WRs last night too. Seemed like a lot of series were 1st run and get stuffed, 2nd pass, no one open/heavy pressure and Brady has to throw away/get sacked, 3rd pass and WR drops ball, 4th punt

garion333 wrote:
*Legion* wrote:

334 passing yards for Garoppolo. Dude looks legit. Very effortless thrower, generates power even when he can't get his feet into it. Belichick did a good job on him, he looks way more impressive than his college draft tape.

Worth the gamble, at least. Now the franchise needs to get him some receivers. Though it looks like Marquise Goodwin may have his first 1000 yard season. Way better than I ever expected from him.

Matt Waldman also likes what he's seeing and he references your BFF:

2. I'M SOLD ON JIMMY GARAPPOLO
I had concerns about Garappolo at Eastern Illinois. He had reactionary moments to pressure. Paired with the wrong team, Garappolo's game could have regressed to a place where Blaine Gabbert comparisons could have come to bear.

Fortunately, that didn't happen and Garappolo worked with the best pocket passer of our generation. Last week, I said it would take something especially noteworthy to be higher or lower on Garappolo while he acclimates to the 49ers.

I think I saw some of those noteworthy things and they are along the same lines of what I've seen from Goff: quiet feet and pocket toughness. These first two plays illustrate his skill at delivering the ball efficiently within a compressed area and/or timeframe and with the requisite power and accuracy for the rhythm of the play.

It was also encouraging to see Garappolo stand tall and make a throw with Jadaveon Clowney bearing down. As with any quarterback, too many of these hits can alter his attitude in the pocket but for now, Garappolo has shown poise and toughness.

His posture while throwing used to annoy me because it hinted of a passer worried about getting hit. However, his body of work shows that he's a quick-thinking, efficient thrower who often anticipates fast enough to protect himself from contact. As long it doesn't impact his results, I'm on board with him as potentially a low-end fantasy QB1 in 2018 if his key supporting staff stays healthy and intact.

He's a dynasty QB1 value based on what I've seen.

Yeah I've been shocked with how good he's been so quickly. It's not just the stats and results because, you know, any scrub can have a hot streak if things happen to fall just right for them. It's more the player evaluation side of things, and Waldman touches on two great ones with footwork and taking hits. He did not flinch in the face of repeated Clowney hits. He didn't take unnecessary hits, but he stood tall for the ones he had to take to get off important throws.

There were some plays where it was obvious that he ran up against the ceiling of his level of understanding of the offense. A couple of sacks where his first 2 or 3 reads weren't there and he clearly wasn't sure what to do next. That's something I chalk up to the fact that he's only been in the offense for 5 weeks. The surprise is how high he's managed to push that ceiling in that time. I expected him to be much more playbook-limited than he has seemed to be, especially in the wordy Shanahan offense that even prepared QBs usually don't feel comfortable in until year 2.

Obviously, playing against two teams that are each currently 4-9 has helped ease him in. I expect some rougher games, especially with the Jags defense coming to town in 2 weeks. But nothing Jimmy is putting on tape to this point is going to give anyone in Santa Clara regrets for spending the 2nd round pick, or second thoughts about applying the franchise tag. John Lynch has to be feeling pretty good about himself lately.

MilkmanDanimal wrote:

I feel like every once and a while Jay Cutler has to have one of those games that makes you sit around and wonder why he wasn't nearly as good of a QB as he could have been, and that was last night.

Ted Sundquist has some thoughts.

I feel like if Cutler had been with someone like Adam Gase his entire career, he could have been good.

Speaking of which, before beating the Patriots, there were already articles being written about Gase being on the hot seat. That's stupid. Adam Gase should in no way be on a hot seat in Miami. A lot of building still needs to happen in Miami, and getting a 10-6 season Gase's first time out may have built expectations up a bit too high, but Gase can coach.

*Legion* wrote:
MilkmanDanimal wrote:

I feel like every once and a while Jay Cutler has to have one of those games that makes you sit around and wonder why he wasn't nearly as good of a QB as he could have been, and that was last night.

Ted Sundquist has some thoughts.

I feel like if Cutler had been with someone like Adam Gase his entire career, he could have been good.

Doesn't always scan the field.
Telegraphs a lot of his passes.
He'll throw it up for the receiver to make a play.

Gawd, I've been pointing that out for a decade+. Brandon Marshall saved Cutler's ass so many times because he would stare him down until the big guy had something resembling an opening and then fling the ball where he could snag it.

Crazy to see all this stuff about his character and how he turned into a meme.

Sad day for Enix; he's going to need our emotional support.

Aguayo a Panther no more.

It's time for him to write the next chapter of his life, to be transcribed in a few sentences for the second edition of Where Are They Now?: Tampa Bay Buccaneers Kickers.

*Legion* wrote:

It's time for him to write the next chapter of his life, to be transcribed in a few sentences for the second edition of Where Are They Now?: Tampa Bay Buccaneers Kickers.

Just do a "Where Are They Now?: Tampa Bay Buccaneers Second-Round Picks Since 2000" one instead.

Lavonte David? Greatness. Everybody else before the "jury still out 2015 Donovan Smith/Ali Marpet" draft? UGH.

Justin Evans
Noah Spence
Roberto Aguayo
Donovan Smith
Ali Marpet
Austin Seferian-Jenkins
Johnthan Banks
Lavonte David
Da'Quan Bowers
Brian Price
Arrelious Benn
Dexter Jackson
Arron Sears
Sabby Piscitelli
Jeremy Trueblood
Barrett Ruud
Dewayne White
Cosey Coleman

WHY DO I ROOT FOR THIS TEAM.

MilkmanDanimal wrote:

Sad day for Enix; he's going to need our emotional support.

Aguayo a Panther no more.

Aguayo was a Panther? Thanks for reminding me so now I have to forget it. Or something.

Because we're playing the second-round draft pick game, Carolina's over the last five seasons are ...

WR Curtis Samuel (IR) and OG Taylor Moton (not very good)
CB James Bradberry (starter)
WR Devin FUNchess (starter)
DE Kony Ealy (traded for picks to the Pats, who then cut him)
DL Kawann Short (a monster)

Jaguars 2nd rounders since 2000:
OT Cam Robinson (new starting LT)
LB Myles Jack (starter)
RB TJ Yeldon (backup)
WR Marqise Lee (starter)
WR Allen Robinson (starter, IR)
S Joanthan Cyprien (now a Titan)
LB Andre Branch (getting his 4.5 sacks a year in Miami now)
OT Eben Britton (out of NFL)
DE Quentin Groves (out of NFL)
LB Justin Durant (a long career as a halfway decent starter/high-backup LB that plays every spot)
RB Maurice Jones-Drew (All-Pro starter)
OT Khalif Barnes (veteran turnstile)
LB Daryl Smith (good long career as a solid starter)
RB Greg Jones (good long career as a solid starter after moving to FB)
CB Rashean Mathis (good long career as a solid starter with one magic All-Pro season)
OT Mike Pearson ("baby Boselli" LOL)
OT Maurice Williams (ehh, OK starter for 6 years)
C Brad Meester (possibly the best non-Pro Bowl center of the era, underrated)

49ers 2nd rounders since 2000:
S Jaquiski Tartt (one of many 49ers starters currently on IR)
RB Carlos Hyde (good starter, underrated, can't catch though which is a problem in Shanahan system)
DE Tank Carradine (perpetual "maybe this year" imaginary contributor)
TE Vance McDonald (disappointing Steelers fans now)
RB LaMichael James (LOL one of Baalke's worst)
QB Colin Kaepernick (narrowly missed Time Magazine's Person of the Year)
S Taylor Mays (safeties don't need to cover right?)
OG Chilo Rachal ("watch out Alex!")
OG David Baas (borderline guy became a solid starter towards the end, but health limited)
OG Justin Smiley (started to get good then never fully recovered from surgery)
DB Shawntae Spencer (he started for a while)
NT Anthony Adams ("Spice", started a couple seasons)
LB Jamie Winborn (well-traveled backup)
DE John Engelberger (I mean, six sacks that one year)
DB Jason Webster (lots of injuries)

MilkmanDanimal wrote:
*Legion* wrote:

It's time for him to write the next chapter of his life, to be transcribed in a few sentences for the second edition of Where Are They Now?: Tampa Bay Buccaneers Kickers.

Just do a "Where Are They Now?: Tampa Bay Buccaneers Second-Round Picks Since 2000" one instead.

Lavonte David? Greatness. Everybody else before the "jury still out 2015 Donovan Smith/Ali Marpet" draft? UGH.

Justin Evans
Noah Spence
Roberto Aguayo
Donovan Smith
Ali Marpet
Austin Seferian-Jenkins
Johnthan Banks
Lavonte David
Da'Quan Bowers
Brian Price
Arrelious Benn
Dexter Jackson
Arron Sears
Sabby Piscitelli
Jeremy Trueblood
Barrett Ruud
Dewayne White
Cosey Coleman

WHY DO I ROOT FOR THIS TEAM.

Hey I recognize 5 or 6 of those names!

IMAGE(http://www.wkusports.com/images/2017/8/31/Henderson_Rex.jpg?width=300)

This is Western Kentucky University freshman quarterback Rex Henderson, and is absolutely not Tim Tebow re-enrolled into college under an alias.

Patriots sign Kenny Britt to a two year deal because of course they do.

Rodgers cleared to play.

Back door cover MVP if the Packers end up 10-6 and make the playoffs?

10-6 might not even cut it tho.

I was at the Jacksonville Seattle game. Took some videos/pictures. I'm still recovering from Bortles Mania but if any of them make any sense I'll post them.

Rodgers better win it all this year, because Garoppolo is the new Rodgers from here on out. Get #2 while you can, #12!

*Legion* wrote:

Rodgers better win it all this year, because Garoppolo is the new Rodgers from here on out. Get #2 while you can, #12!

Channeling your inner cash in on the future now cause why wait? But ya Rodgers needs a 2nd cause that's the only way you can get to #3.

After seeing Bortles Mania live the Jags are totally signing him after they lose in the AFC championship game.

jowner wrote:

But ya Rodgers needs a 2nd cause that's the only way you can get to #3.

#3? Sure, I guess if he wants the backup job in San Francisco, the team could use someone better than Beat Hard.

After seeing Bortles Mania live the Jags are totally signing him after they lose in the AFC championship game.

IMAGE(https://i.imgur.com/MnZET4Y.gif)

jowner wrote:

10-6 might not even cut it tho.

It probably will. Carolina (9-4) still has to play ATL (8-5) again. Seattle (8-5) is still in the mix. The Saints (9-4) lead the South (for now). Lots will happen over the next three weeks.

I don't expect the Panthers to win out, but I definitely don't expect them to lose at home Sunday.